WOW! 29 YEARS OLD!
So in February me and papa celebrated 7 years of walking with each other and little did I know that it was a treat because we celebrated in Nicaragua. So as this new year I am entering into begins I am esatic that this is happening in Botswana! I would not have in a million years I would be celebrating a birthday on the continent of Africa!
As I take a step back and look at this past year of life I am honestly at a loss for words. I don’t see the same woman. Usually I look back and see little changes little glimpses of growth and looking at chapter 28 so much has changed in this journey.
I think about this song Unusual Love by C West.
Over the past year I have pushed through identity and allowing the truth that has been on the inside break through. I have seen safety in pain because I know Papa will be there. I have seen loneliness on another level and yet felt so seen and valued. I looked my preferences in the face and have seen them shattered. I have seen my self-rejection destroyed. I have seen what it means to miss home. I have seen a love that cannot completely be described. Chapter 28 was a chapter of growth so much that I didn’t know I wanted but needed. I had hidden Danie’lla Maria Patterson so much that it wasn’t until this year until I saw how much she needs to come out.
It’s crazy what the lack of comfort can do for you. In all of my 28 years I do not think I have felt more known by myself than any other time. It is so true that the closer we get to God the more he tells us who he created us to be. It’s one thing to have people tell you what they see it’s an entirely different thing to actually see it in yourself. This year things went from being lip service to action. I am learning to give myself grace and just enjoy the journey. Who I am is not contingent upon whether someone sees it or not honestly it’s not based on whether I see it or not. It’s based on what I am willing to listen to Abba say about me and how willing I am to step and walk into that truth. My steps have already been ordered by the Lord. The interesting thing is that those steps require action. Yes faith is the substance of things hoped for and things not yet seen. My faith in being the woman I am today was activated on my birthday 3 years ago when @discovering_dmp began. I had no idea that deciding to see who I was would lead me to things beyond words but once the step was taken there is no turning back. Like once you know something you can’t unknow it. You can ignore it but it doesn’t change what is already evident in your mind.
I have learned to throw my plans out the window and just walk and see where it leads. I definitely have passion, desires, hopes, and dreams but i’m not set in stone. I’m not going to limit God in my life anymore.
So here goes chapter 29. Let the stories begin!
I am currently in month 8 and I am 2 months past my final deadline for fundraising. I am reaching out again to ask for your support
Currently I am $4,194 away from the goal. That means we are 76.96% funded.
Would you consider donating $100? Any amount helps. Even $29 since I just turned 29.
You can donate via
Blog: daniellapatterson.theworldrace.org
Cash app: $dmpella
Venmo: daniella-patterson
Google Wallet: [email protected]
